The Preakness Stakes may not be as unpredictable at the break as the Kentucky Derby, but Preakness post positions should still play a factor when analyzing the Preakness Stakes odds.
Favored Journalism will break from post two of nine when the latch is sprung for the Preakness on Saturday, May 17.
2025 Preakness post positions and odds
| Post | Cloth # | Horse | Trainer/Jockey | Odds |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 1 | Goal Oriented | Bob Baffert / Flavien Prat | 6/1 |
| 2 | 2 | Journalism | Michael McCarthy / Umberto Rispoli | 8/5 |
| 3 | 3 | American Promise | D. Wayne Lukas / Nik Juarez | 15/1 |
| 4 | 4 | Heart of Honor | Jamie Osborne / Saffie Osborne | 12/1 |
| 5 | 5 | Pay Billy | Michael Gorham / Raul Mena | 20/1 |
| 6 | 6 | River Thames | Todd Pletcher / Irad Ortiz Jr. | 9/2 |
| 7 | 7 | Sandman | Mark Casse / John Velazquez | 4/1 |
| 8 | 8 | Clever Again | Steve Asmussen / Jose Ortiz | 5/1 |
| 9 | 9 | Gosger | Brendan Walsh / Luis Saez | 20/1 |
Odds courtesy of FanDuel Racing.
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Preakness Stakes wins by post position
Where Preakness Stakes horses start can either give them an advantage or a disadvantage right out of the gate. Here are the post positions that claim the most Preakness Stakes titles since the introduction of the starting gate in 1930.
Post No. 14 has never won the Preakness Stakes.
| Post Position | Wins |
|---|---|
| 1 | 13 |
| 2 | 12 |
| 3 | 12 |
| 4 | 14 |
| 5 | 12 |
| 6 | 17 |
| 7 | 14 |
| 8 | 10 |
| 9 | 4 |
| 10 | 2 |
| 11 | 2 |
| 12 | 3 |
| 13 | 1 |
| 14 | 0 |
Best post position at the Preakness Stakes
In terms of producing Preakness Stakes winners as, the best post position at the is gate No. 6. This middle spot boasts 17 Preakness winners.
Worst post position at the Preakness Stakes
Gate No. 14 is the worst post position in the Preakness and has yet to produce a champ.
How is post position determined at the Preakness Stakes?
The post positions for the Preakness Stakes are determined through a random draw conducted by race officials. The draw typically takes place on the Monday of race week.
During the draw, numbered pills or balls, each representing a specific post position, are placed in a randomizer machine. The machine is then activated, and the pills are mixed thoroughly to ensure a fair selection. One by one, the pills are drawn from the machine, and the corresponding post positions are assigned to the participating horses in the order they are drawn.
The post position assigned to each horse is significant because it determines the starting position of the horse in the race. The post positions are numbered from 1 to 14, with the inside positions (closer to the rail) generally considered advantageous due to the shorter distance they have to cover to reach the first turn. However, track conditions, running style of the horse, and other factors can influence the significance of post positions in different races.
It's worth noting that the post positions for the Preakness Stakes can have a significant impact on a horse's chances of winning, as the race is run on a relatively shorter track compared to the Kentucky Derby, which can make it more challenging for horses to make up ground if they start from an unfavorable post position.
